The Great Escape is one of Europe’s premier music showcase events. Taking place between May 13th – 16th in Brighton, the festival showcases over 500 artists across the city and a pop-up festival area along Brighton beach.
However, the festival hasn’t just booked emerging talent from the UK. There’s Canadian, US and, more relevant to our mandate, Irish acts featured throughout the lineup.
Reflecting a forward-thinking ethos, the festival has opted to host a selection of its acts in two separate mini showcases, taking place in Dublin and Glasgow under the banner The Road To The Great Escape. The Dublin edition will take place on May 11th and 12th in The Grand Social, Tramline and Lost Lane.
These mini showcases have been titled ‘The Road To The Great Escape’.
You can grab a ticket for both days, at €17+, right here. Here’s the list of acts that will be performing throughout the Dublin mini-showcase.
- Aaron Smith
- Ama
- April
- Aviva
- Chiiild
- Dear-god
- Gracey
- Griff
- House of Pharaohs
- Hyyts
- Kid Kapichi
- Lucia & the Best Boys
- Mabes
- Malaki
- Master Peace
- Noisy
- Oscar Lang
- People Club
- Strange Bones
- The Pale White
- Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers
- Walt Disco
Not recognising some of the names on the list? Don’t sweat it, most are in the very early stages of their career and largely UK based. As such, we carefully poured through the entire thing and picked out 10 of our favourites from it.
1.
Ama
We’ve personally tipped London vocalist AMA to do really well this year (here). Her music is a striking combination of futuristic, OTT beats and ultra-silky R&B vocals. A winning combination.
2.
April
Site regular & Dublin-based lofi R&B artist very much on the rise April is an excellent Irish ambassador on this list. Very much looking forward to hearing her release more material in the year to come.
2.
Chiiild
Montreal-based psych-rock group Chiiild have imbued their lead single ‘Count Me Out’ with flavours of funk, riff and groove all within a psychedelic sheen. Very much looking forward to catching them in May.
4.
Gracey
Brighton native Gracey is the total DIY pop package. Penning, producing and curating every aspect of her music. 2019 single ‘If You Loved Me’ is the real deal.
5.
House Of Pharoahs
London hip-hop collective House Of Pharaohs embody the liquid state of the genre at large currently. The collective belong to no one tribe (Grime, Road, Drill etc). Instead, they pick and choose their favourite aspects from each and use them as they see fit.
6.
HYYTS
Larger than life alternative pop theatrics from new Scottish duo HYYTS. They may end up having a marmite effect on listeners, but we’re here for it.
7.
Malaki
Dublin wordsmith and MC Malaki has been receiving a ton of buzz and recognition off the back of his insightful lyricism and grounded productions.
8.
Noisy
Noisy are the Worthing natives pouring angst, outsider syndrome and electronic fuzz into their punky hyper-rock sound. They’ve just been signed to Island Records too!
9.
Oscar Lang
Expect idiosyncratic, charming and compelling indie from British native bedroom-pop artist Oscar Lang come May. Spent the past couple of years getting tons of praise from his Silk project while completing his A-Levels. Nice one.
10.
People Club
Regulars on Nialler9. Intercontinental lo-fi soul outfit People Club have oozed both style and substance on their debut EP Kil Scott.
